Required Spectral Resolution for Bioaerosol Detection Algorithms Using Standoff Laser-Induced Fluorescence Measurements

We have developed and tested a standoff biological aerosol detection demonstrator employing ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence. It is based on commercially available components including a pulsed 355-nm laser and an intensified charge-coupled device camera. Biological warfare simulants and interferents were released and measured in open air field and closed-chamber laboratory tests. We analyzed the experimental data at different spectral resolutions, using statistics-based anomaly detection, and spectral angle mapping algorithms. The results show that less than 20 spectral channels in the 350-700-nm spectral region are sufficient in order to discriminate between the agents released using these methods. This corresponds to sacrificing high spectral resolution for the benefit of more photons in each channel and reduced computation time.